Currently, blind Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) face the “earnings cliff,” where their benefits end abruptly once they earn above a set threshold, discouraging many from pursuing work opportunities. The Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175) will establish a 20-year demonstration project to replace this cliff with a fairer system that phases out benefits gradually at a two-for-one rate, reducing benefits by $2 for every $1 earned above the threshold. This change removes a key disincentive to work and gives blind individuals the stability to seek and maintain meaningful employment. By promoting workforce participation and economic independence, the Act empowers blind Americans to build self-sufficiency while still ensuring needed support as they transition into the labor market.
